Work Text:
With Windemere's steady growth of popularity, Skizz forced himself into his office more and more to handle the logistics and technical side. He never liked having to handle it all before opening, because he would rather be prepping in the kitchen. But, it had to be done.
Besides, a perk of sitting behind a desk meant he could look at all the framed pictures he had scattered about. His newest was him, Tango, and Jimmy crowding into a frame. Tango and Jimmy had been dating for about nine months, and watching the two become more comfortable showing off their relationship as each day passed brought Skizz so much joy. Of course, he would still tease them at any chance he got. It brought a new kind of entertainment. He knew that eventually there would be a day when the jokes would come true and he would catch them making out somewhere. And he knew that day would never be let go of.
Skizz also knew that he wouldn’t get a love story like that. The restaurant owner could see the truth clearer than anybody, no matter what Tango Top tried to tell him. No matter the angle he attempted, all he would receive would be rejection, distrust, and one less employee.
It wouldn’t kill him to leave his feelings unsaid. He had long since come to terms with the fact that BigB wouldn't want him as anything more than what they already had. Skizz could fantasize as much as he wanted about whisking his fellow angel off his feet, declaring him not just a romantic partner, but a business partner as well.
But that’s all it would ever be. A fantasy.
His daydreams and the various pictures on his desk could keep him cheerful through his busy work though. No matter the stress of prices from distributors fluctuating, keeping up his research and proof the farms kept ethical treatment of livestock, or the marketing contracts, he was more than okay.
Skizz hummed to himself as he worked, with the hope that he would get done soon enough to have time to help finish prepping in the kitchen.
Not too long thereafter, a soft knock hit his door.
“Come on in!” He brightly called out.
As he organized the mess of papers on his desk, the door opened and his smile grew. With a small, soft smile that Skizz loved, BigB entered the room. His wings were folded and his hands were behind his back as he approached.
Skizz extended a hand towards one of the two chairs on the other side. “Care to sit down?”
Although the chef stood behind one of the chairs, he never sat. His smile faltered for a moment as one hand gripped the top of the seat. “This um- this won’t take long. I just uh-” A heavy sigh dropped his shoulders. “I thought I should wait until the end of my shift, but I didn’t want to have it weighing on me all night and act like everything was okay.”
From behind his back, he pulled out a white envelope with no address on it. He stepped between the chairs and offered it.
“My um, my two weeks,” he quietly explained. “I’ve decided to leave Windemere.”
Skizz’s stomach dropped. He couldn’t remember the last time he lost his appetite like that. He tried to make a light-hearted comment, but only a wheeze left his unsteady smile. He didn’t even want to take the form, not that it would make a difference.
BigB simply placed it on his desk and scratched the back of his neck, looking away.
He struggled to find something to say, but he was grateful that BigB was waiting. “Can- can uh- listen, Bopper, you don’t have to tell me why, but if you wouldn’t mind sharing I- and if there’s anything I can do to fix it, I will.”
Was it too desperate of him to say that? It probably would’ve been better to give an outstanding referral to whoever needed to hear it. He should’ve just thanked Bopper for being there since Windemere first opened its doors.
But he didn’t want to let go just yet.
Skizz loved seeing him nearly every day. He loved his jokes, his smile, his face, and every other building block that made the angel who he was.
BigB kept his eyes down. “There’s nothing to fix. I just… think it’s time I- I gotta move on.”
Rolling his shoulders, Skizz adjusted his posture. He kept staring at the envelope. But he never touched it.
“That makes sense,” he slowly admitted. “You gotta move on from my restaurant and- try out something else? Like- like starting your own?”
Bopper shook his head. “No, I have to move on from you, Skizz.” He finally looked up at him, with eyes wide and too sad for Skizz’s liking.
His chest tightened. “Wh-” he exhaled, barely able to get a word out.
“Back in culinary school I always thought I just- admired you with your bright energy and your skills and- but it wasn’t until you started talking about opening this place and I didn’t hesitate to follow you that I realized I’m- I’m in love with you, Skizz. I keep trying to let it go but I can’t and it hurts so much and I know you don’t- we can’t- so I know the best thing to do is to get away so I can finally, finally move on. For real.”
BigB picked the letter back up and held it out. “I’m sorry for letting my personal problems get in the way. I tried to not let it happen but I can’t take it anymore. And I know this is all uncomfortable to hear but I promise for my last two weeks I’ll keep to myself, I’ll be normal.”
He didn’t feel himself rise, but he was standing up regardless. His heart was hammering in his chest but his stomach churned from how hurt his fellow angel was.
The grip on the letter was tight, but the moment he touched it, BigB let go. It was only paper, but it weighed heavier than the sun between his fingers.
It’s what he wants to do. But it’s not what he has to do. But would it hurt even more, if I told him how I felt? Is it too little too late?
With a deep breath, he shifted his hold on the letter to tear it in half. “I refuse to accept this,” he softly declared. “If that’s your reason, then I want you to stay.” BigB was startled by his action, his wings starting to spread. And as Skizz talked, his expression lifted.
Skizz tossed the rejected notice into his trash as he walked around his desk to be closer to him. “Bopper I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much hurt over the years. If I had known sooner how you felt, if I was just less of a coward, I would’ve said something forever ago,” he apologized.
He was trying to read the emotions on BigB’s face, but he couldn’t decipher if he was about to break down crying or laughing. He still wasn’t sure what was going to come of it all. If the hurt was too much for B, or if they could simply be happy together. They were still separated by one of the two chairs, though Skizz wanted to hug him more than anything.
Still, BigB wasn’t saying anything, so he pressed on.
“I love you,” he firmly stated. “And I’ll tell you a thousand times over every day to make up for the years I’ve held it from you. And you know what? Who cares that I own this place? You’ve been here since day one. You’ve been with me since before I had a name picked out. I love you and I want you to stay working here and sometimes, if you want, leave with me after a shift.”
By the time he finished, B had burst into laughter. It was gentle and warm and disturbed butterflies in his stomach. The chef braced a hand on the chair before slowly moving to sink into the seat as he calmed down. As he took a deep breath, his palms covered his cheeks.
“Gosh, I-I can’t believe I… All that time, being so… so anxious over nothing!” He exhaled in disbelief.
Slowly, Skizz moved to kneel beside the chair and dared to place a hand on his knee.
BigB gazed at him with the biggest smile he had ever seen. He learned at that moment that eyes could be one of the most romantic things to see.
“I can’t believe this, really,” BigB continued. “I’ve spent the past month thinking about leaving, you know? I-I finally made my decision this morning and it’s been killing me but to know that I- Skizz I’m really- I can’t believe this! And- and I am staying. I don’t want to go.” He dropped his hands to touch Skizz, squeezing the back of his hand.
“Again, I’m so sorry I’ve caused you a lot of pain. I’m really sorry I took so long,” Skizz insisted.
“Nah, don’t worry about that anymore.”
B extended a hand to brush his cheek. Chills prickled his skin.
“I’ll try,” he light-heartedly joked, leaning into the comfort of his palm.
When B’s touch became firmer, he followed his guidance to raise and move in closer. “I know exactly how you can make it up to me,” he teased as his eyes slipped down below his stare.
Skizz squeezed his knee again, his other hand finding a home on the side of his neck as he eagerly kissed him. It was firm and steady, if only for a moment. BigB hastily pressed on for more, sliding his hand to the back of Skizz’s head as he chased after his lips. Not that Skizz was going anywhere.
The other angel tasted like a gourmet meal that had been carefully crafted and perfected over six years. There was something dangerously addictive about him too, and Skizz craved more and more.
He pressed further on, guiding B to lean back into the seat as he deepened their affection. Hands moved to grab onto the sides of his arms, fingers sinking into his skin. The hand Skizz had on his knee slid up his leg before reluctantly letting go so he could brace himself on the back of the chair.
It wasn’t until he heard distant conversations float by his door did he considered stopping.
When he pulled away, he was given a view of the other angel struggling to catch his breath with a contagious smile on his face.
“I love you, Bopper,” he proudly declared, standing up straight and pulling B up with him.
The angel wrapped his arms around Skizz’s torso, capturing him in a hug that brought a kind of warmth he hadn’t even felt from Tango before. His forehead lowered into his shoulder and he was more than happy to hug him in return.
Although no one would enter without knocking, he still raised his wings to shield BigB.
“I love you, Skizz. Please go out with me.”
He chuckled. “I’d absolutely love to.”